As the new home of NJPIRG's environmental work, Environment New Jersey can be contacted regarding this news release.
NEWARK– On September 14, the Commissioners of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
(NJBPU) voted unanimously to propose new regulations placing New Jersey
at the forefront of environmental and responsible energy policymaking.
By increasing the state’s current Clean Energy Standard to 20% by 2020,
the NJBPU will spur the renewable energy market.
“The
state’s proposed goal of meeting 20% of our energy needs by 2020 with
clean energy is a win for us all. It will mean cleaner air, less global
warming pollution, more high paying jobs and economic growth for New
Jersey,” said Adam Garber, Clean Energy Associate for New Jersey Public
Interest Research Group (NJPIRG).
Currently,
New Jersey requires 4% of the state’s energy to come from renewable
sources by 2008. The stronger standard proposed today would ensure New
Jersey becomes a national leader in clean energy development. New
Jersey would have the strongest clean energy standard east of the
Mississippi.
“With
adoption of this rule, Governor Codey will make New Jersey a national
leader in clean energy,” said Jeff Tittel, NJ Sierra Club Director.
“This will allow New Jersey to gain economic advantage in the
development of new technologies to support clean energy and will result
in clear environmental benefits as well,” added Tittel.
Currently, 577 people die prematurely due to smog and soot from power
plants. The respiratory problems significantly affect children, causing
more than 440,000 asthma attacks a year. Global warming pollution from
power plants is also a major problem for New Jersey’s future. According
to the EPA, unabated global warming will cause the ocean to rise at
least two feet by 2100, which would swallow an area of land larger than
Hudson County. The EPA also reported that New Jersey could experience
up to a four-degree shift in temperature, increasing the likelihood of
disease outbreaks and flooding.
An
examination of recent energy growth rates and current energy usage
suggests that New Jersey’s energy demand will nearly double between
2003 and 2020. A 20% by 2020 clean energy standard would meet almost
half of the state’s growing energy need. In fact, the standard would
ensure that the energy produced from six medium-sized power plants
would be met with pollution free sources.
“The
rule provides a way to continue generating electricity without
increasing premature deaths, asthma attacks and New Jersey’s
contribution to global warming from our state’s energy consumption,”
continued Garber.
The
NJBPU first established a goal of adopting the 20% by 2020 clean energy
standard more than two years ago. The rule proposal today marks the
first official step in formally adopting the stronger standard into
law. The meeting today will be followed by a two-month public comment
period. To facilitate the public’s involvement in the public comment
period, NJPIRG has joined with other environmental groups, unions,
farmers and businesses to support the proposed rule and to educate the
broader public about its significance for the state.
"For
us solar energy is the realization of a dream we’ve had for 25 years.
We have large roofs, open fields, and experience with the sun. Solar
energy is ideal for the vision we hold of sustainable and revitalized
local agriculture,” said Lori Gold from Genesis Farms, which is one of
the first farms to use solar panels to supply their energy.
Finally,
the standard will invigorate New Jersey’s hemorrhaging manufacturing
job market by creating an average of 5,710 jobs each year. New Jersey
already has some of the best financial incentives for clean energy in
the country. The combination of these two programs will help New Jersey
become a major manufacturer of solar panels and wind turbines in the
northeast.
“Recently
the manufacturing sector has reeled from jobs leaving the state. One of
the best plans for revitalizing this area is again becoming innovative
through ‘green job’ creation. The clean energy standard is an
opportunity to spur this new market to create thousands of jobs in New
Jersey,” said Bill Kane director of the Industrial Union Council.
“A
clean energy standard of 20 percent will tip New Jersey’s energy
production into a pollution-free energy future,” continued Garber. “We
can be one of the first states to help realize an energy system that
can power our lights without worrying about harming each other and the
environment.”
This standard ensures that New Jersey is leading the clean energy
movement. The new clean energy standard will help make us energy
independent. It will guarantee that in the future we can produce energy
without threatening people’s health and destroying the environment.
